I am interested in the lived experience of artworks by their spectators, without the interference of intellectualization. Pulling from -among other things- spatial composition, gamification, choreography, phenomenology, sacral music, sleep, synesthesia, and the aesthetics of power, I aim to create works that embody experiences the spectator can relate to on a visceral level.
Gravity – I’m floating (2023) - A composition for acousmonium and dance, in collaboration with Butoh dancer Miyuki Lima. Past shows: En Chair et en Son, November 2023 (Paris, FR)
10,000 gushes (2020, revisited in 2023) - A spatial sound-work inspired by Spectromorphology and Kinesthetic Empathy. The work attempts to invoke qualia of bodily movement through abstract sound.
Past shows: Ars Electronica, September 2023 (Linz, AU, 2023 revisit for 21 speakers), Finlandia Institute, February 2020 (Stockholm, SWE, composition for 16 speakers)
SNAIL (2023) - SNAIL is a contribution to a wearable publication by XEROXED, attempting to bridge the gap between the tactile and the evanescent. AI generated speech is accessed via a printed QR code. Past shows: Primo Moroni Archive, June 2023 (Milan, IT), Museum Arnhem, June 2023 (Arnhem, NL)
Dance, Dance, Absolution (2022) - Dance, Dance, Absolution is the first in a series of works that centres corporeality, each work taking a specific facet of what it is like to live as a perpetually emergent body, and stretching, deconstructing and re-contextualizing it.
A 1.30 square metre aluminium plate serves as a platform for the spectator. This platform is connected by four 2 metre-long beams to a contraption on which a screen and two speakers are positioned. The screen portrays a figure in motion, cycling through forms reminiscent of traditional ballet. As the spectator moves and imitates the figure, they can see their own shape reflected against its shape, while disjointed music and sound accompanies both in their movement.
Additional help for the design and production of the physical installation was provided by Jeroen Molenaar, and additional programming by Vincent Boon.
Violin as heard throughout the installation was played by Christine Cornwell. Dance, Dance, Absolution has received financial support from Gemeente Rotterdam and Fonds Podiumkunsten.
Past shows: The New Current, February 2023 (Brutus, Rotterdam, NL), Gaudeamus Festival, September 2022 (Tivoli Vredenburg, Utrecht, NL), No Man’s Land, December 2022 (Tivoli Vredenburg, Utrecht, NL), and GRAW, September 2022 (IJzerblok, Rotterdam, NL)
10,000 gushes / he could not dance to anything (2022) - Two pieces of electronic music that deal with the concept of sonic choreography through the lense of Dennis Smalley’s Spectromorphology. Initially composed for 16 speakers, the works were mixed down to stereo-format for the digital release. Available for stream and download via rubenkotkamp.bandcamp.com
Remixes by Áslaug Magnúsdóttir, Casimir, and Exploited Body.
Mastering by Lawrence English.
Artwork by Ruben Kotkamp.
refract me, deflect you (2021) - refract me, deflect you deals with the formalization and de-contextualization of spoken text - and language by extension. Since most spectators will not be able to speak all of the languages used in the work, they are forced to listen to them as pure formal and aesthetical objects. The physical rendition of the work adds a a spatial dimension. Six raspberry Pi’s with cameras are hidden around a large space. All units play one track of the six track audio composition while live-streaming a camera feed to a central space in the building. In this central space the entire composition can be heard and the combined camera feeds are streamed on a large screen.
Music by Ruben Kotkamp.
Programming by Luke Deane and Ruben Kotkamp.
Design by Ruben Kotkamp.
Voices by Line Branchereau, Hedvig Holgersson, Áslaug Magnúsdóttir,
Andriana Cotorobai, Marta Marlo, Reiko Ohta, and Sara Abraham.
Past shows: Gaudeamus Festival, September 2021
(Tivoli Vredenburg, Utrecht, NL, Physical installation).
Ars Electronica, September 2020
(Linz, AU, Digital installation).
Gaudeamus Festival, September 2020 (Utrecht, NL, Digital installation).
Vaagner, November 2020,
(Berlin, DE, Music released on Cassette).
untitled in chrome (2019) - An attempt to create complete synthesis between sound and image, the textures and colours in the image are translated into sound and vice versa.
Music & Image Ruben Kotkamp.
Past shows:
SWITCH / IFFR, February 2020
(Roodkapje, Rotterdam, NL).
Zenevloed x Vaagner, June 2022
(OCCI, Amsterdam, NL).
